Born in Armenia, Gokor has trained in the grappling arts since the age of 5. He is ranked 9th dan in Judo, 6th dan in Sambo, and 6th dan in Jujitsu. Having emigrated to the US in 1981, Gokor has been training world class Judoka and MMA fighters at the HayastanMMAAcademy with Gene LeBell since 1991.